Rebel Netters Defeat Arkansas to Win SEC Opener

March 6, 1999

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The No. 4 nationally-ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team won the doubles point and three of the singles matches to hand 39th-ranked Arkansas a 4-3 loss in the Rebels' conference opener Saturday. With the win, the Rebels improve to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the SEC.

"We took the doubles point and that was a huge key for us," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "They are usually strong in doubles and winning the point kind of stung them. Then we took two of the top four matches in singles and that really hurt them. This was your typical SEC match. Arkansas will be the surprise team' in the conference."

In a match that was played indoors due to weather, Ole Miss got the early lead by winning all three doubles matches. At the top spot, Martin Sjoqvist and James Shortall defeated Oskar Johansson and Henrik Tofft 8-4 and then at No. 2 doubles Vikrant Chada and Anders Stenman downed Brady Berry and Chris Campbell 8-3.

In singles, Johansson evened the match up at 1-1 as he defeated Rebel Shortall in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. Johansson is tied for 50th in the latest collegiate rankings, while Shortall is ranked No. 41. Sjoqvist gave the Rebels a 2-1 lead, beating Campbell 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles.

Rebel freshman Martin Selin put Ole Miss ahead 3-1 with his 6-0, 7-5 straight-set victory over Fergus Reid at the No. 4 position. Arkansas cut it to 3-2 when Tofft defeated Ole Miss' Chada 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.

That left freshman Kristofer Stahlberg and sophomore Anders Stenman on the court. Stahlberg has come up big in several matches for the Rebels and he did it again Saturday, dominating Tiago Azevedo 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to clinch the victory for Ole Miss. Stahlberg has been a dominant presence for the Rebels at the No. 6 spot posting a 9-0 record.

With the match already won, Anders Stenman retired at 6-6 in the first set against Magnus Kullenberg to make it 4-3.

The Rebels continue their road trip as they travel to Auburn, Ala., Tuesday to face the Auburn Tigers at 1:00 p.m.

#4 Ole Miss 4
#39 Arkansas 3

SINGLES
#1 Oskar Johansson (UA) def. James Shortall (OM) 6-3, 6-4
#2 Henrik Tofft (UA) def. Vikrant Chada (OM) 6-4, 6-3
#3 Martin Sjoqvist (OM) def. Chris Campbell (UA) 6-3, 6-4
#4 Martin Selin (OM) def. Fergus Reid (UA) 6-0, 7-5
#5 Magnus Kullenberg (UA) def. Anders Stenman (OM) 6-6, ret.
#6 Kristofer Stahlberg (OM) def. Tiago Azevedo (UA) 6-1, 6-1
DOUBLES
#1 Sjoqvist-Shortall (OM) def. Johansson-Tofft (UA) 8-4
#2 Chada-Stenman (OM) def. Brad Berry-Campbell (UA) 8-3
#3 Selin-Stahlberg (OM) def. John Deaton-Kullenberg (UA) 8-6

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related Videos